Sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescope gunsights

ABSTRACT

A sighting gauge having a rod extending from its front edge for rotatable support on the muzzle end of the rifle barrel. The gauge has a vertically adjustable indicia bearing sighting target and is counterweighted at the bottom to hang precisely upright in a pendulum arrangement when the rod is supported in the gun barrel. A lens holder is adapted to fit on the front end of the telescope gunsight and employs a lens to bring the sighting target into focus. The lens holder may also have a transverse wall therein, removable if desired, with a peep-hole therein for more precisely aligning the telescope with the indicia on the sighting target. Furthermore, a sighting cap is adapted to be mounted on the rear of the telescope and also has a transverse wall with a peep-hole and cross hair therein providing greater accuracy for sighting in the gunsight.

United States Patent Steffan SlGHTING IN APPARATUS FOR RIFLE MOUNTED TELESCOPE GUNSIGHTS [76] Inventor: Walter J. Steffan, 17838 SE.

Lincoln St., Portland, Oreg. 97233 [22] Filed: Mar. 18, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 451,830

[52] US. Cl. 33/234; 33/245; 33/286; 33/295; 33/334 [51] Int. Cl.-. F41G 1/54;G01C 25/00 [58] Field of Search 1. 33/233, 234, 245, 286, 33/334, 295

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,927 l/l90l Church 33/252 3,112,567 12/1963 Flanagan 33/234 3 744,l33 7/1973 Fukushima .1 33/234 3,777A04 12/1973 Orcck 33/245 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A sighting gauge having a rod extending from its front edge for rotatable support on the muzzle end of the rifle barrel. The gauge has a vertically adjustable indicia bearing sighting target and is counterweighted at the bottom to hang precisely upright in a pendulum arrangement when the rod is. supported in the gun barrel. A lens holder is adapted] to fit on the front end of the telescope gunsight and employs a lens to bring the sighting target into focus. The lens holder may also have a transverse wall therein, removable if desired, with a peep-hole therein for more precisely aligning the telescope with the indicia on the sighting target. Furthermore, a sighting cap is adapted to be mounted on the rear of the telescope and also has a transverse wall with a peep-hole and cross hair therein providing greater accuracy for sighting in the gunsight.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Sept. 30,1975

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SIGHTING IN APPARATUS FOR RIFLE MOUNTED TELESCOPE GUNSIGHTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescopes.

Rifles used by hunters frequently employ telescopes thereon for distance sighting. When the rifle has been stored for a considerable time, such as between hunting seasons, it is customary for the hunter to take the gun to a target range and sight the telescope in by repeated firings of the rifle. Such takes considerable time and furthermore is expensive because of the number of bullets usedv The telescope can be easily misaligned if the rifle should fall or if the hunter should accidentally bump a tree, fence, automobile, or the like, while carrying the rifle. Such can ruin a hunting trip since it is next to impossible to sight in the telescope in a hunting area by targeting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention and forming a primary objective thereof, sighting in apparatus for telescope gunsights is provided which is adaptable for use with the gunsight to speedily sight in the telescope without firing the rifle.

More particular objects are to provide sighting in apparatus for telescope gunsights which employs a sighting gauge with a rod-like extension adapted to support the gauge in a pendulum arrangement in the muzzle end of a gun barrel so that an upright adjustable sightin'g target will automatically be positioned vertically for viewing through the telescope; to provide in combination with such sighting gauge a lens piece adapted to be removably mounted on the front of the telescope for bringing the telescope into focus with the sighting target and further including an interior wall with a center peephole for more accurately sighting in the scope, such wall being removable whereby sighting can be accomplished without benefit of such peephole if desired; and to provide a sighting cap for removably mounting on the rear of the telescope and employing a wall portion with a peephole to further increase the accuracy of the sighting in apparatus.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a rifle having a telescope gunsight mounted thereon, this view also showing the present invention associated with the rifle for sighting in the gunsight;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view ofa sighting gauge forming a part of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the sighting gauge, this view being taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged foreshortened sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and showing in greater detail portions of the present invention as associated with a telescope gunsight;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the sighting gauge portion of the invention showing adapter means used therewith for adapting the gauge to different types of rifles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particular reference to the drawings, the first to FIG. 1, a conventional rifle is designated by the numeral 10. The breech portion of the barrel is designated by the numeral 12 and the muzzle portion is designated by the numeral 14. A telescope gunsight of conventional construction is designated by the numeral 16 and has support on the: rifle by suitable mount means 18. The telescope gunsight has the conventional cross hair sighting means therein not shown, adjustable vertically and horizontally by adjustment means 20.

The present apparatus includes a sighting gauge 22 of the shape in side elevation as best illustrated in FIG. 1. The gauge 22 has a front edge 24 from which a round rod 26 projects. Rod 26 is of a selected diameter such that it will fit in the muzzle end of the gun barrel, and it projects from an upper portion of the gauge 22 so that when the latter is supported in the gun barrel, it will act as a pendulum and hang upright. To lighten an upper portion of the gauge, an upper rear edge portion 28 thereof may be cut away in inclined relation. The fit of the rod 26 in the barrel is such that while it is freely rotatable therein, it does not have any substantial lateral play so that accuracy is maintained. In a preferred construction, the rod 26 is mounted in a horizontal bore 29 extending through the gauge, and said rod is fixed to the gauge in a selected front projecting dis' tance, for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter, by a setscrew 30 leading down from the inclined edge 28.

The front edge 24 of the gauge 22 has an upright groove 31 leading .down from the top and slidably receiving a sighting target 32. Target 32 is held adjustably in the groove 31 by means of a clamp screw 34 passing through an elongated slot 36 in the sighting target and threadedly engaged in the sighting gauge 22.

Sighting target'32 has fine adjustment in the groove 31 by an adjusting screw 38 threadedly mounted in the top of the gauge 22 in a position closely adjacent the rear side of the sighting target 32. Screw 38 is a round headed screw, and such head] is designated by the nu- ,meral 40 and partially engages a recess 42 on the rear surface of the sighting target, whereby it is apparent that upon selected adjustment of the screw, selected positioning of the sighting target 32 can be accom plished, the clamp screw 34 of course first being loosened and then being tightened] when the adjustment has been accomplished. An additional recess 42a may be provided below recess 42 to get extra height adjustment for the sighting target 32.

The front surface of the sighting target 32 has intersecting vertical and horizontal reference lines 44 and 46, respectively, the vertical line 44 being precisely centered in relation to the axis of the support rod 26. It is also useful to provide auxiliary vertical reference lines 44a on each side of the main reference line. These auxiliary lines may be useful for sighting in purposes,

such as in guns that do not shoot accurately. Locator means 45 such as holes or marks are used on the main reference line 44 for readily locating it.

In the sighting in position of the gauge 22, the rod 26 is inserted in the muzzle end of the gun barrel as shown in FIG. 1. WIth the pendulum action of the gauge 22, it' will hang straight vertically whereby the telescope gunsight can be adjusted such that its cross hairs have the desired alignment relative to the intersection of lines 44 and 46. Prior to use of the gauge in the field, the sighting target 32 is selectively adjusted for the proper sighting of the gunsight, such set adjustment being accomplished at the factory as associated with a selected type of gunsight and the selected type of gun on which the gunsight is to be used, or the owner of the gun can adjust the sightingtarget 32 to the selected position by suitable targeting. Once the position of the sighting target has been fixed, sighting of the gunsight can be conveniently and speedily checked merely by temporarily mounting the gauge 22 on the muzzle end of the barrel.

Since telescope gunsights are focused for substantially long distances, it is desired that the present apparatus include a lens 50, FIGS. 4 and 5, for bringing the sighting target 32 into clear focus. Lens 50 is supported a in a sleeve-like holder 52 arranged to fit on the front end of the telescope gunsight l6. Holder 52 has an inner shoulder 54 against which the lens 50 is held in abutting engagement by an O-ring 56, or snap ring if desired, frictionally mounted in the sleeve behind the lens.

' With the short focal length created by the lens 50, it

is desired that the gauge 22 be supported at substantially the same length from the lens 50 for all types of guns so that clear viewing of the sighting target is available. Since guns vary as to barrel length, the gauge may be brought into focus by adjusting the rod lengthwise in the barrel. With a selected rod length, such as about 12 inches, substantially all barrel lengths can be accommodated, and by proper positioning of the gauge on the rod 26 by means of the setscrew 30, the desired rod length can be fixed for a particular gun. .Another form of rod mounting construction is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the rod 26' is integral with the front edge of the gauge 22' and for the purpose of providing the sighting target in focus each time the apparatus is used, a bushing 58 is employed on the rod 26 which is frictionally capable of remaining in a selected set position and which when abutted against the front end of the barrel will space the gauge 22 the proper distance from the telescope gunsight.

The lens holder 52 may include a transverse wall 60 therein having a center peephole 62. This peephole narrows the line of sight through the telescope and provides greater accuracy in sighting in the telescope. This wall may be removably supported in the sleeve as an insert if desired so that if the owner does not desire to use it it may be removed. The O-ring 56 protects the lens from the disc insert 60.

Sighting means are also provided at the rear of the telescope, FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, and for this purpose a sighting cap 64 of cup shape is arranged to be fitted on the rear end of the telescope. This member has an end wall 66 also provided with a peephole 68. The peephole 68 further adds to the accuracy of the sighting in apparatus in that by sighting through both peepholes 62 and 68 for viewing the sighting target 32, extreme accuracy can be obtained. A horizontal cross hair 70 intersects the peephole 68 at its center to narrow down the sighting in vision by lining up such cross hair with the horizontal cross hair in the gunsight. For manufacturing purposes, a groove 72 is cut diametrically in wall 66 to intersect the peephole 68, and the cross hair is effectively held in place by adhesively securing it in the groove.

According to the present invention, sighting in apparatus is provided which can be conveniently carried by the gun owner and which can be readily mounted on the gun when he desires to sight in his telescope or merely to check it. He may simply use the gauge 22 and the lens 50 for general sighting in, and if greater accuracy is desired, the insert 60 can be used. If still further accuracy is desired, the rear sighting cap 64 may be used.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescope gunsights comprising a. a sighting gauge having top and front edges,

b. rod-like support means projecting from the front edge of said gauge and arranged to be rotatably received in the muzzle end of a rifle barrel,

0. said support means extending from said gauge above the center of gravity of the latter whereby to form a pendulus support for the gauge to hold it precisely vertical when mounted in the rifle barrel,

d. a sighting target mounted on the front edge of said gauge having intersecting vertical and horizontal reference lines to be used in sighting in the telescope gunsight,

e. means arranged to adjust said sighting target vertically for setting the latter to the proper position for sighting in the telescope gunsight,

f. lens means for focusing the gunsight to the sighting target when the latter is supported on the muzzle end of the barrel,

g. a holder for said lens means arranged to be removably mounted on the front end of the telescope gunsight for supporting said lens means at the front of the gunsight,

h. and a transverse wall in said holder having a peephole centrally thereof for cooperation with the sighting means of the telescope gunsight and said sighting target for sighting in the gunsight.

2. The sighting in apparatus of claim 1 including a sighting cap arranged to be removably mounted on the rear end of the telescope gunsight, a transverse wall in said cap having a peephole centrally thereof for cooperation with sighting means of the telescope gunsight and with the peephole in said transverse wall in said holder as well as with said sighting target for sighting in the gunsight.

3. The sighting in apparatus of claim 2 including a cross hair extending centrally and horizontally across the peephole in said sighting cap.

4. The sighting in apparatus of claim 1 including a stop bushing mountable on said support means in a selected position to limit penetration of said rod-like support means in the rifle barrel a selected amount to space the sighting gauge a predetermined distance from said lens.

5. The sighting in apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means extends through a bore in said sighting gauge, and setscrew means engageable between said gauge and said support means for holding the latter in a selected set position.

6. Sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescope gunsights comprising a. a sighting gauge having top and front edges,

b. rod-like support means projecting from the front edge of said gauge and arranged to be rotatably received in the muzzle end of a rifle barrel,

c. said support means extending from said gauge above the center of gravity of the latter whereby to form a pendulus support for the gauge to hold it precisely vertical when mounted in the rifle barrel,

d. a sighting target mounted on the front edge of said gauge having intersecting vertical and horizontal reference lines to be used in sighting in the telescope gunsight,

e. means arranged to adjust said sighting target vertically for setting the latter to the proper position for sighting in the telescope gunsight,

f a vertical screw having threaded vertical mounting in said gauge and also projecting above the top edge of the latter adjacent to said sighting target,

g. said sighting target having a recess on its side adjacent to said screw,

h. a head portion on said screw projecting laterally into said recess whereby said sighting target will be adjusted up and down with corresponding threaded movement of the screw,

i. lens means for focusing the gunsight to the sighting target when the latter is supported on the muzzle end of the barrel,

j. and a holder for said lens means arranged to be removably mounted on the front end of the telescope gunsight for supporting said lens means at the front of the gunsight.

7. The sighting in apparatus of claim 6 including means defining a groove in the front edge of said gauge slidably receiving said sighting target, said means for adjusting said sighting target vertically including a vertical slot in said sighting target adjacent to its lower end and clamp screw means extending through said slot releasably clamping said sighting target selectively in said groove in its mounted position on said gauge after first releasing said clamp screw means.

8. The sighting in apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sighting target has a second recess on its side adjacent to said screw vertically spaced from said first mentioned recess, said screw head portion being selectively engageable with one or the other of said recesses to vary the vertical adjusting range of said sighting target. =l l l l 

1. Sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescope gunsights comprising a. a sighting gauge having top and front edges, b. rod-like support means projecting from the front edge of said gauge and arranged to be rotatably received in the muzzle end of a rifle barrel, c. said support means extending from said gauge above the center of gravity of the latter whereby to form a pendulus support for the gauge to hold it precisely vertical when mounted in the rifle barrel, d. a sighting target mounted on the front edge of said gauge having intersecting vertical and horizontal reference lines to be used in sighting in the telescope gunsight, e. means arranged to adjust said sighting target vertically for setting the latter to the proper position for sighting in the telescope gunsight, f. lens means for focusing the gunsight to the sighting target when the latter is supported on the muzzle end of the barrel, g. a holder for said lens means arranged to be removably mounted on the front end of the telescope gunsight for supporting said lens means at the front of the gunsight, h. and a transverse wall in said holder having a peephole centrally thereof for cooperation with the sighting means of the telescope gunsight and said sighting target for sighting in the gunsight.
 2. The sighting in apparatus of claim 1 including a sighting cap arranged to be removably mounted on the rear end of the telescope gunsight, a transverse wall in said cap having a peephole centrally thereof for cooperation with sighting means of the telescope gunsight and with the peephole in said transverse wall in said holder as well as with said sighting target for sighting in the gunsight.
 3. The sighting in apparatus of claim 2 including a cross hair extending centrally and horizontally across the peephole in said sighting cap.
 4. The sighting in apparatus of claim 1 including a stop bushing mountable on said support means in a selected position to limit penetration of said rod-like support means in the rifle barrel a selected amount to space the sighting gauge a predetermined distance from said lens.
 5. The sighting in apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means extends through a bore in said sighting gauge, and setscrew means engageable between said gauge and said support means for holding the latter in a selected set position.
 6. Sighting in apparatus for rifle mounted telescope gunsights comprising a. a sighting gauge having top and front edges, b. rod-like support means projecting from the front edge of said gauge and arranged to be rotatably received in the muzzle end of a rifle barrel, c. said support means extending from said gauge above the center of gravity of the latter whereby to form a pendulus support for the gauge to hold it precisely vertical when mounted in the rifle barrel, d. a sighting target mounted on the front edge of said gauge having intersecting vertical and horizontal reference lines to be used in sighting in the telescope gunsight, e. means arranged to adjust said sighting target vertically for setting the latter to the proper position for sighting in the telescope gunsight, f. a vertical screw having threaded vertical mounting in said gauge and also projecting above the top edge of the latter adjacent to said sighting target, g. said sighting target having a recess on its side adjacent to said screw, h. a head portion on said screw projecting laterally into said recess wherebY said sighting target will be adjusted up and down with corresponding threaded movement of the screw, i. lens means for focusing the gunsight to the sighting target when the latter is supported on the muzzle end of the barrel, j. and a holder for said lens means arranged to be removably mounted on the front end of the telescope gunsight for supporting said lens means at the front of the gunsight.
 7. The sighting in apparatus of claim 6 including means defining a groove in the front edge of said gauge slidably receiving said sighting target, said means for adjusting said sighting target vertically including a vertical slot in said sighting target adjacent to its lower end and clamp screw means extending through said slot releasably clamping said sighting target selectively in said groove in its mounted position on said gauge after first releasing said clamp screw means.
 8. The sighting in apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sighting target has a second recess on its side adjacent to said screw vertically spaced from said first mentioned recess, said screw head portion being selectively engageable with one or the other of said recesses to vary the vertical adjusting range of said sighting target. 